In Wednesday’s Stew column in the Flavor section, I included a note from reader Leonie Miller of Tampa, who wrote to say that she had “a particular subject for you — too much salt!”

Her letter said:

“NOWADAYS my daughter and I love to ‘eat out.’ Marge is a travel agent based in L.A. She has eaten fine food the world over.

“Very noticeably, in Tampa the food is very salty. This keeps people home in droves. At most every place (in $-$$-$$$), SALT is the flavor, all else secondary.

“People in the food industry need to be alerted. Think about it. Please, please, do something about it.”

I told Miller that I lacked the kind of superpowers required to regulate public and private spice and condiment usage. Still, I hoped that chefs and cooks might read her note and act accordingly.

Then I got this note today from Talana Miller of Brandon.

Hi Jeff,

I’m with Lenonie Miller regarding salty food at restaurants and fast food establishments. I am slightly computer literate but I am interested in starting a petition for McDonald’s and Burger King to Stop Shaking the Salt. I just cringe when i go there and when the fresh fries come out of the fryer they dump and salt. I order my fries without salt everytime.  They already have the small packets of salt available for the customer so why do they have that big salt shaker at hand? UUhhhh!!!! Any suggestions or help to get the petition started would be appreciated.

If you’re eating fries, I’m not sure salt is your problem, Talana. Also, what is it about a big salt shaker that makes you go, and I quote, “UUhhhh!!!!” Very odd phenomenon.

A confession: There are few food experiences more enjoyable to me than a bag of hot fries with tons of salt on them.

I said it. I’m that easy. So there.